Research Interests

I study parasites of marine fish and sea mammals. Part of my research is about the ecology of these organisms, investigating how their populations and communities are structured. Since no community can be characterized if its species composition is not fully known, I am also interested in the taxonomy of marine parasites. In particular, I am currently captivated by the taxonomy of Ligophorus, a genus of gill parasites occurring on mullets whose species show intriguing patterns of host-parasite associations.
I am also interested in developing statistical methods to predict the harvest location of fish based on the composition of their parasite assemblages. I believe that this approach can help improve enforcement of fisheries policies by providing a tool to certify the origin of a catch, helping to fight illegal and unreported fishing. My research also encompasses parasite infections in Mediterranean aquaculture and the effect of fish introductions on native parasite communities.

Projects

Evaluating the effect of an invasive species on local mullet communities in the Mediterranean: a parasite community approach. INTAS 2003 - 5998. Partners: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Zhaporizhzhia State University (Ukraine), Natl. Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, TINRO (Russia). (2004-2007) [+ INFO]

Pathogen research in Mediterranean aquaculture. EC 6th Framework Programme. Marie Curie Host Fellowships for the Transfer of Knowledge (MTKD-CT-2004- 014501). Partners: Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (Denmark), University of Bergen (Norway) (2005-2008)

Establishing traceability for cod (Gadus morhua): determining location of spawning and harvest. EC 5th Framework Programme, Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources (Q5RS-2001-01697). CODTRACE. Partners: University College Dublin (Ireland, project co-ordinator), University of Essex (UK), University of Bergen (Norway), University of Gothemburg (Sweden), University of Karlsruhe (Germany), Marine Research Institute (Iceland). (2002- 2004)

Selected Publications (i.e., a compromise between latest and favourite papers)

Herreras MV, Montero FE, Marcogliese DJ, Raga JA & Balbuena JA (2007) Phenotypic tradeoffs between egg number and egg size in three parasitic anisakid nematodes. Oikos 116: 1737-1747.

Holzer AS, Blasco-Costa I, Sarabeev VL, Ovcharenko MO & Balbuena JA (2006) Kudoa trifolia sp. n. – molecular phylogeny suggests a new spore morphology and unusual tissue location for a well-known genus. J Fish Dis 29: 743–755.

Sarabeev VL, Balbuena JA & Euzet L (2005) Taxonomic status of Ligophorus mugilinus (Hargis, 1955) (Monogenea, Ancyrocephalidae), with a description of Ligophorus mediterraneus n. sp. from Mugil cephalus (Teleostei, Mugilidae) from the Mediterranean Basin. J Parasitol 91: 1444- 1451.

Power AM, Balbuena JA & Raga (2005) Parasite infracommunities as predictors of harvest location of
bogue (Boops boops L.): a pilot study using statistical classifiers. Fish Res 72: 229-239.

Aznar FJ, Balbuena JA, Fernández M & Raga JA (2001). Living together: the parasites of marine mammals. In Marine mammals: biology and conservation, PGH Evans & JA Raga (eds), pp. 385-423. Kluwer/Plenum, New York.

Balbuena JA, Karlsbakk E, Saksvik M, Kvenseth AM & Nylund A (2000) Growth and emigration of third-stage larvae of Hysterothylacium aduncum (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in larval herring Clupea harengus. J Parasitol 86: 1271- 1275.

Balbuena JA & Raga JA (1994). Intestinal helminths as indicators of segregation and social structure of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off the Faeroe Islands. Can J Zool 72: 443- 448.

Balbuena JA & Raga JA (1993) Intestinal helminth communities of the long-finned pilot whale off the Faroe Islands. Parasitology 106: 327- 333.

Balbuena JA & Raga JA (1991) Ecology and host relationships of the whale-louse Isocyamus delphini (Amphipoda: Cyamidae) parasitizing long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) off the Faroe Islands (N.E. Atlantic). Can J Zool 69: 141- 145.